Men’s and women’s semifinals in Kabaddi World Cup to be held in Lahore

Lahore has been chosen to host the men’s and women’s semifinals in Kabaddi World Cup to be held in December 2014, this was disclosed by Usman Anwar, Director General Sports Punjab while talking to media at National Hockey Stadium here on Tuesday. The 5th edition of Kabaddi World Cup will be played in India from December 5 to 15.

DG SBP told that Sukhbir Singh Badal, the Deputy Chief Minister of Indian Punjab, took this decision on the request of Lahore Lions Kabaddi team manager Waqas Akbar in an important meeting that took place in New Delhi the other day.

It’s pertinent to mention here that the semi-finals and final of World Kabaddi League (WKL) will also be staged in Lahore. “It’s first time since 1996 that Pakistan is going to host a final of a major world sports event which is a big landmark for our country,” he described. Pakistan last hosted the final of Cricket World Cup between Australia and Sri Lanka at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium some 18 years back.

Usman further informed that ten teams – Pakistan, India, Argentine, America, Britain, Scotland, Canada, Sierra Leone, Spain and Denmark will participate in the men’s Kabaddi World Cup event while the women’s competition will have eight teams in the race for the coveted title. “The countries which will figure in the women’s event will be Pakistan, India, New Zealand, Kenya, Britain, Malaysia, Denmark and Mexico,” he added.

In his talk with media, Waqas told that strict measures have been taken to make the Kabaddi World Cup drug-free and in this regard Rs 30 lakh have been allocated for this purpose.

During the meeting, Badal also appreciated Director General Sports Punjab Usman Anwar, who has been inducted into the Executive Body of World Kabaddi League (WKL), for his untiring efforts for the growth of sports in the region.